Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

[PeoplesChampGB]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

This franchise is 100% sim. The Jets start out hot and then the slide commences. LOL. Nah, just caught up tonight. Good job on the franchise and you have another follower. Good luck the rest of the way.

[Cheese2121]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

Ugh that was not what I was hoping for. That is the Geno Smith I was worried about. Really hope you can bounce back in the next one and stop the slide.

On a happier note, your writing is really good and the presentation for this is really coming together. Great work!

[gamerMark]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

This franchise is 100% sim. The Jets start out hot and then the slide commences. LOL. Nah, just caught up tonight. Good job on the franchise and you have another follower. Good luck the rest of the way.

Hahaha, I know this story all too well. The next two are tough, Denver at home Pats on the road. Hoping to get at least 1 out of two and keep pace for the wc.
Thanks for checking it out!

Ugh that was not what I was hoping for. That is the Geno Smith I was worried about. Really hope you can bounce back in the next one and stop the slide.

On a happier note, your writing is really good and the presentation for this is really coming together. Great work!

A lot of it had to do with being taken out of our game plan. I was shocked that we couldn't run the ball. Ivory's first carry went for 19 yards and nothing after that. I thought we'd have our way in the run game. Geno just isn't capable if carrying the team on his own at this point.

Also our pass defense is feast of famine. We're either sacking the QB or getting torched by him.

[gamerMark]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

Unfriendly Skies

Chris Johnson confronts coaching staff mid flight

SNY.TV
Matt Cosci October 6, 2014

Just two weeks ago the Jets were riding high on a 3 game win streak to begin their 2014 campaign. Following two consecutive losses in which they held double digit second half leads, dissension has now crept in as it so often does with losing streaks.

An unnamed source inside the Jets organization confirmed that there was a heated exchange between Jets running back Chris Johnson and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg on the teams flight back to New York following their loss to the Chargers. Johnson voiced his displeasure with his lack of playing time in Sundays loss at his locker in a post game interview saying, "They pay me cuz I make plays. I can't make plays from the sideline."

Rex Ryan was questioned about Johnson's noticeable absence from the game plan following the loss. "We couldn't get our run game going so opportunities were limited," Ryan said.

Johnson was on the field for just five snaps and recorded zero touches for the game. The Jets opted to use Bilal Powell on passing downs, as he's known for his blocking and pass catching ability.

When Johnson signed a two year contract in the spring he figured to play a prominent role in the offense, but Chris Ivory's strong running between the tackles and fast start has relegated Johnson to a backup role. In his first five games Johnson has 25 carries for just 79 yards, a paltry 3.1 yards per carry average, with one touchdown. He has also struggled with his pass protection duties and catching the ball out of the backfield.

Now five years removed from his 2000 yard season, Johnson's production has been in steep decline. The player known for his speed and big play ability has seen his runs of twenty yards or more drop from one every twelve rushes to one in every twenty five. In his first 25 carries with the Jets he has zero runs over twenty and only one over ten.

The Jets are set to face the defending AFC champion Denver Broncos this week followed by a trip division rival to New England. Along with the adjustments on the field, the team now has an issue in the locker room to address. The coaching staff and Johnson need to come to a quick resolution before the Jets promising start disintegrates and the echo's of "Same ol' Jets" begin.

---------------------

[Cheese2121]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

Sounds like Johnson's time with New York could be numbered. I was hoping he might be that home run threat for you but he is clearly not panning out to be that. I absolutely love the added storylines. It gives this project of yours such an organic and true-life feel. Fantastic stuff.

[gamerMark]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

Sounds like Johnson's time with New York could be numbered. I was hoping he might be that home run threat for you but he is clearly not panning out to be that. I absolutely love the added storylines. It gives this project of yours such an organic and true-life feel. Fantastic stuff.

Thanks Cheese!

It's been a busy week. I'll be playing the Denver game tonight so more updates to come. I have another storyline coming soon. It's a big one so I'm looking forward to revealing it.

[gamerMark]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

Around the League Week 5

Notable Transactions

Signings
Bears: WR Plaxico Burress 1yr/$1.12m

Week 5 Scoreboard

Thursday's Games

Vikings @ Packers, 34-3

Sunday's Games

Bears @ Panthers, 14-23

Browns @ Titans, 35-7

Rams @ Eagles, 17-30

Falcons @ Giants, 13-19

Buccaneers @ Saints, 27-24

Texans @ Cowboys, 20-45

Bills @ Lions, 27-25

Ravens @ Colts, 22-6

Steelers @ Jaguars, 23-20

Cardinals @ Broncos, 21-34

Chiefs @ 49ers, 18-21

Jets @ Chargers, 27-34

Bengals @ Patriots, 13-41

Monday's Games

Seahawks @ Redskins, 14-19

BYE WEEKS: Dolphins, Raiders

Weekly Awards

NFC Offensive Player: QB T. Romo (DAL) 31-36, 391 yds, 6 tds
NFC Defensive Player: DE G. Selvie (DAL) 8 tkl, 4 sacks

AFC Offensive Player: QB T. Brady (NE) 32-45, 305 yds, 3 tds
AFC Defensive Player: OLB E. Dumervil (BAL) 11 tkl, 3 sacks, 1 ff

NFL Standings - Week 5 2014
NFC EAST	W	L	T	PF	PA
Eagles	4	1	0	129	104
Cowboys	4	1	0	139	91
Redskins	3	2	0	101	99
Giants	2	3	0	90	111
NFC NORTH	W	L	T	PF	PA
Vikings	4	1	0	138	71
Lions	4	1	0	143	110
Packers	2	3	0	87	117
Bears	2	3	0	91	129
NFC SOUTH	W	L	T	PF	PA
Buccaneers	3	2	0	136	131
Panthers	3	2	0	113	137
Falcons	2	3	0	89	99
Saints	0	5	0	70	129
NFC WEST	W	L	T	PF	PA
49ers	4	1	0	123	103
Cardinals	1	3	0	88	103
Rams	1	3	0	76	100
Seahawks	1	3	0	65	73
AFC EAST	W	L	T	PF	PA
Patriots	5	0	0	167	85
Bills	4	1	0	110	81
Jets	3	2	0	144	108
Dolphins	1	2	1	94	124
AFC NORTH	W	L	T	PF	PA
Steelers	3	2	0	109	105
Ravens	3	2	0	126	80
Browns	2	2	0	86	66
Bengals	1	3	0	74	104
AFC SOUTH	W	L	T	PF	PA
Jaguars	2	3	0	117	105
Texans	2	3	0	78	100
Colts	1	4	0	84	119
Titans	1	4	0	91	134
AFC WEST	W	L	T	PF	PA
Chargers	3	2	0	105	116
Chiefs	2	2	1	111	106
Broncos	2	2	0	82	72
Raiders	0	4	0	54	99

Week 5 Injuries

Bears: QB Jay Cutler – Shoulder 4 weeks
Bills: RB C.J. Spiller – Knee 3 weeks
Broncos: DT Sylvester Williams – Shoulder 4 weeks
Broncos: DE Quanterus Smith – Ankle 5 weeks
Buccaneers: TE Luke Stocker – Groin 2 weeks
Buccaneers: RT Demar Dotson – Elbow 4 weeks
Buccaneers: LT Oniel Cousins – Shoulder 4 weeks
Chiefs: OLB Dee Ford – Elbow 2 weeks
Chiefs: WR Donald Avery – Hip 6 weeks
Colts: WR T.Y. Hilton – Ankle 2 weeks
Cowboys: DT Terrell McClain – Collarbone 7 weeks
Eagles: LT Jason Peters – Groin 4 weeks
Eagles: TE Brent Celek – Ankle 6 weeks
49ers: LG Mike Iupati – Shoulder 3 weeks
Redskins: DE Jarvis Jenkins – Shoulder 3 weeks
Redskins: SS Brandon Meriweather – Groin 3 weeks
Redskins: RB Evan Royster – Knee 2 weeks
Saints: LG Ben Grubbs – Thumb 4 weeks
Saints: DE Glenn Foster – Thumb 3 weeks

Injured Reserve

Chargers: LT King Dunlap – Achilles
Chargers: DT Sean Lissemore – Knee

Eagles: DT Bennie Logan – Pec Tear

Giants: QB Eli Manning – Groin Tear
Giants: DE Mathias Kiwanuka – Shoulder

Lions: TE Eric Ebron – Knee
Lions: DE Ezekiel Ansah – Pec Tear

Packers: DT B.J. Raji – Achilles

Ravens: RB Justin Forsett – Foot
Ravens: TE Dennis Pitta – Femur

Saints: RB Pierre Thomas – Ankle

Vikings: CB Derek Cox – Tibia

[gamerMark]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

Matchup Preview|October 12, 2014
	@
Denver Broncos (2-2, 0-1 Away)		New York Jets (3-2, 2-1 Home)
Offensive Rankings 20th Passing Yards 7th 27th Rushing Yards 6th 19th Points Per Game 2nd 24th Total Offensive Yards 6th Defensive Rankings 2nd Passing Yards Allowed 20th 17th Rushing Yards Allowed 8th 3rd Points Allowed 21st 9th Total Yards Allowed 14th Injury Report LT R. Clady 3 weeks WR J. Saunders 1 week RG L. Vasquez 8 weeks DT S. Williams 4 weeks DE Q. Smith 5 weeks CB T. Carter 2 weeks Game Notes The Jets return home to face the defending AFC Champion Denver Broncos in a week 6 matchup. New York will look to end a two game losing streak against a Broncos team that had a decisive victory over the Arizona Cardinals in week 5. At 2-2 the Broncos offense is off to a slow start as Peyton Manning has just four touchdown passes, but their defense ranks in the top 10 that boasts a formidable pass rush and talent in the secondary. New York's defense has struggled mightily the last two weeks dropping from the #2 ranked unit in the league to #14. The Broncos have yet to find their stride in the passing game, but they still field a potentially potent attack with Manning at the helm. The Jets will have to find their running game which has gone missing the last two weeks and create turnovers if they hope to end their 2 game slide. Denver will be without two of their best offensive lineman as LT Ryan Clady and RG Louis Vasquez are out with injuries. Protecting Manning will be key for the Broncos who face the league's best pass rush through five weeks.

[gamerMark]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

Ball'd Over

Poor tackling plagues Jets in 3rd straight loss

Montee Ball would not be denied

Newsday Sports
Jack Reilly

East Rutherford, N.J. -- The Jets began their 2014 season with an impressive three game winning streak which was spearheaded by dominating performances by their defense. In the three games that have followed that defense has vanished, replaced by a unit that surrenders too many long pass plays and struggles to bring down the ball carrier. In their latest loss, the Jets allowed Denver’s running back Montee Ball to reach the end zone three times as he pounded New York for 121 yards on 25 carries in a 37-21 loss.

Denver got their running game going early as Ball would have carries of 29 and 14 yards on their opening possession, leading to a 49 yard field goal by Matt Prater. New York on the other hand struggled get their running game back on track. The Jets would gain just 62 yards on the ground as a fast Denver defense keyed on Chris Ivory.

The Jets would get their first interception by a defensive back this season when CB Dee Milliner picked off Peyton Manning, thwarting what looked to be another scoring chance in the first quarter. The Jets would then drive 72 yards on 14 plays resulting in a Nick Folk 28 yard field goal to tie the score at three. On the drive Geno Smith would complete 5 consecutive passes and convert on three 3rd down attempts. Manning would exact some vengeance on Milliner on the ensuing drive by finding an open Wes Welker for a 42 yard gain. The long pass play would set up Montee Ball’s first rushing touchdown of the day, a 4 yard run in which he broke the tackle of Quinton Coples to give the Broncos a seven point lead.

Geno Smith would lead a response as the offense moved 71 yards in 16 plays on their next possession. The Denver defense was hell bent on stuffing the run, but the Jets found success in the short passing game. Smith would complete 8 of 12 passes on the drive, five of which went to WR Eric Decker. He would then finish off the first half by finding TE Jace Amaro in the end zone to tie the game at 10 heading into the break.

Denver would leave little doubt as they took control in the second half. After forcing a Jets three and out, Montee Ball would find the end zone for his second score, powering his way through Jets defenders on a six yard run. The Jets would continue using short passes to move their way down the field, but would only cut into the Broncos lead with a field goal. The backbreaking play for New York would come quickly soon after. On first down at their own 22 yard line, Manning completed a pass to Emanuel Sanders who then broke free of FS Antonio Allen for a 78 yard touchdown, extending the lead to 11.

From that point on the Denver pass rush was able to pin their ears back as the Jets were forced to abandon the running game. Von Miller would end the next two Jets possessions. One with a third down sack, and the other with an interception of Smith. Denver would continue to pound the ball on the ground when Montee Ball broke another Antonio Allen tackle on a key third down and scampered down the sideline for 35 yards. He eventually scored for the third time on a 3 yard run. Allen had a difficult day and was bench in the third quarter.

Now in desperation mode, the Jets moved quickly in their hurry up offense and were able to score when Smith found Eric Decker for a 23 yard touchdown, but it was too little too late. Denver would kick two more field goals putting the game out of reach and hand the Jets their third consecutive defeat.

Running Back Chris Johnson was again kept off the stat sheet. Johnson played just 4 snaps and was flagged for a holding penalty on what would’ve been a 55 yard pass play. He was not present in the locker room to take questions after the game.

In his post-game comments Rex Ryan was clearly agitated. “We can’t seem to put a whole game together, it’s really frustrating. We did so well to start the season and to be at .500 right now is very disappointing.”

The Jets have a short layoff this week as they head to New England for their first division game of the season Thursday night.

(Left)Ball wills his way to endzone, Ball benches Allen with broken tackle (Right)


(Left)Sanders cuts loose, Miller time in 4th quarter (Right)


(Left)Amaro scores to end Half, Milliner gets first pick of year (Right)

Denver Broncos at New York Jets
Oct 12, 2014	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Denver Broncos (3-2)	3	7	14	13	37
New York Jets (3-3)	0	10	3	8	21

Team Stats Comparison
	DEN	NYJ
Total Offense	405	336
Rushing Yards	119	62
Passing Yards	286	274
First Downs	13	19
Punt Return Yards	18	16
Kick Return Yards	92	158
Total Yards	515	510
Turnovers	1	1
3rd Down Converstion	4-9	10-16
4th Down Conversion	0-0	0-0
2-Point Conversion	0-0	1-1
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	3/0	1/2
Penalties	0-0	2-41
Posession Time	24:23	27:37

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		DEN	NYJ
9:31	(DEN) M. Prater, 48 YD FG	3	0
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		DEN	NYJ
7:40	(NYJ) N. Folk, 27 YD FG	3	3
4:57	(DEN) M. Ball, 4 YD run (Prater kick)	10	3
0:06	(NYJ) J. Amaro 8 YD pass from G. Smith (Folk kick)	10	10
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		DEN	NYJ
9:13	(DEN) M. Ball, 6 YD run (Prater kick)	17	10
4:16	(NYJ) N. Folk, 34 YD FG	17	13
4:02	(DEN) E. Sanders 78 YD pass from P. Manning (Prater kick)	24	13
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		DEN	NYJ
10:33	(DEN) M. Ball, 3 YD run (Prater kick)	31	13
2:52	(DEN) M. Prater, 52 YD FG	34	13
1:19	(NYJ) E. Decker 23 YD pass from G. Smith (2 pt conv)	34	21
0:08	(DEN) M. Prater, 49 YD FG	37	21

Denver Broncos PASSING C/A YDS TD INT P. Manning 16/19 289 1 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD M. Ball 25 121 4.8 3 C. Anderson 2 2 1.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD E. Sanders 5 151 30.2 1 M. Ball 3 9 3.0 0 D. Thomas 3 38 12.6 0 W. Welker 2 62 31.0 0 J. Tamme 1 8 8.0 0 J. Dreessen 1 16 16.0 0 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK R. Harewood 1 0 M. Ball 0 1 D. Thomas 2 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD V. Miller 5 2 1 0 A. Talib 6 0 0 0 C. Harris Jr 5 0 0 0 T. Ward 6 0 0 0 J. Murphy 4 0 0 0 T. Knighton 6 0 0 0 D. Trevathan 4 0 0 0 R. Moore 3 0 0 0 J. Johnson 3 0 0 0 J. Chaney 4 0 0 0 M. Jackson 3 0 0 0 D. Ware 4 1 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG M. Prater 3/3 4/4 13 52 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 B. Colquitt 1 36 36.0 0 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD W. Welker 3 71 23.6 0 A. Talib 1 21 21.0 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD W. Welker 2 17 8.5 0 B. Roby 1 1 1.0 0

New York Jets PASSING C/A YDS TD INT G. Smith 25/43 294 2 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD C. Ivory 13 34 2.6 0 B. Powell 6 28 4.6 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD E. Decker 11 138 12.5 1 J. Amaro 5 61 12.2 1 D. Nelson 4 45 11.2 0 J. Kerley 4 46 11.5 0 T. Bohannon 1 4 4.0 0 BLOCKING PANCAKE SACK D. Ferguson 2 0 D. Colledge 1 0 B. Giacomini 0 2 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Q. Coples 6 1 0 0 C. Pace 5 0 0 0 A. Allen 5 0 0 0 D. Milliner 5 0 1 0 S. Richardson 4 0 0 0 D. Harris 4 0 0 0 C. Pryor 3 0 0 0 J. Jarrett 3 0 0 0 M. Wilkerson 2 0 0 0 D. Davis 2 0 0 0 L. Houston 2 0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG N. Folk 2/2 1/1 7 34 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 R. Quigley 4 170 42.5 0 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD J. Kerley 6 158 26.3 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD J. Kerley 1 16 16.0 0

[gamerMark]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

Around the League Week 6

Notable Transactions: None

Week 6 Scoeboard

Thursday's Games

Colts @ Texans, 17-10

Sunday's Games

Bears @ Falcons, 17-26

Jaguars @ Titans, 28-21

Broncos @ Jets, 37-21

Lions @ Vikings, 15-23

Patriots @ Bills, 13-19

Panthers @ Bengals, 6-13

Steelers @ Browns, 10-22

Packers @ Dolphins, 21-28

Chargers @ Raiders, 27-21

Cowboys @ Seahawks, 24-28

Redskins @ Cardinals, 24-42

Giants @ Eagles, 14-24

Ravens @ Buccaneers, 17-13

Monday's Games

49ers @ Rams, 10-10

BYE WEEKS: Saints, Chiefs

Weekly Awards
NFC Offensive Player: QB C. Palmer (Ari) 30-39, 341 yds, 2 tds
NFC Defensive Player: OLB A. Smith (SF) 16 tkl, 5 sacks

AFC Offensive Player: RB M. Ball (Den) 25 att, 121 yds, 3 tds
AFC Defensive Player: MLB J. Mayo (NE) 12 tkl, 1 int

NFL Standings - Week 6, 2014
NFC EAST	W	L	T	PF	PA
Eagles	5	1	0	153	118
Cowboys	4	2	0	163	119
Redskins	3	3	0	125	141
Giants	2	4	0	104	135
NFC NORTH	W	L	T	PF	PA
Vikings	5	1	0	161	86
Lions	4	2	0	158	133
Packers	2	4	0	108	145
Bears	2	4	0	108	154
NFC SOUTH	W	L	T	PF	PA
Buccaneers	3	3	0	149	148
Panthers	3	3	0	119	150
Falcons	3	3	0	115	116
Saints	0	5	0	70	129
NFC WEST	W	L	T	PF	PA
49ers	4	1	1	133	113
Cardinals	2	3	0	130	127
Seahawks	2	3	0	93	97
Rams	1	3	1	86	110
AFC EAST	W	L	T	PF	PA
Bills	5	1	0	129	94
Patriots	5	1	0	163	119
Dolphins	2	2	1	122	145
Jets	3	3	0	165	145
AFC NORTH	W	L	T	PF	PA
Ravens	4	2	0	143	93
Browns	3	2	0	108	76
Steelers	3	3	0	119	127
Bengals	2	3	0	87	110
AFC SOUTH	W	L	T	PF	PA
Jaguars	3	3	0	145	126
Colts	2	4	0	101	129
Texans	2	4	0	88	117
Titans	1	5	0	112	162
AFC WEST	W	L	T	PF	PA
Chargers	4	2	0	132	137
Broncos	3	2	0	119	93
Chiefs	2	2	1	111	106
Raiders	0	5	0	75	126

Week 6 Injury Report

Bears: QB David Fales – Forearm 4 weeks
Cardinals: MLB Daryl Washington – Shoulder 3 weeks
Chargers: DE Corey Liuget – Ab Tear 4 weeks
Chargers: RG Chris Watt – Thumb 2 weeks
Colts: DT Montori Huges – Ankle 5 weeks
Dolphins: LG Shelley Smith – Groin 16 weeks (IR)
Dolphins: FS Jimmy Wilson – Ankle 3 weeks
Giants: WR Mario Manningham – Wrist 3 weeks
Packers: QB Aaron Rodgers – Groin 3 weeks
Raiders: DE Justin Tuck – Groin 3 weeks
Seahawks: LT Russell Okung – Elbow 4 weeks
Seahawks: C Max Unger – Achilles 52 weeks (IR)
Seahawks: DE Michael Bennett – Shoulder 3 weeks
Titans: DE Karl Klug – Toe 3 weeks
-----------------------

[gamerMark]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

I just wanted to take a moment to thank those of you following along. I've really enjoyed this dynasty so far and I appreciate all the comments and views. I noticed the thread rating this morning so I'd also like to thank you for taking the time to read through the project and rate it.

My next post will be a storyline entry. I tried my best to cut it down, but it's still long. If you don't have the time to read it, there will be a report following it to get you up to speed on what took place.

Thanks for the support everyone!

[GMAB8]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

Following, love the detail and storylines! Keep up the good work!

[gamerMark]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

Bingo

In the early morning hours of October 14, 1994, a distress call was received by the U.S. Coast Guard Station Delaware Bay. The 44 foot fishing Vessel Sea Shrike was caught in rough seas approximately 145 miles off the coast of Cape May, N.J. The Captain of the boat reported engine failure and the vessel was in threat of taking on water. Coast Guard air assets from Air Station's Elizabeth City, N.C. and Atlantic City, N.J. were dispatched along with the Cutter Harriet Lane which was patrolling the mid-Atlantic.

Among those responding was a 25 year old lieutenant who would be leading his first rescue mission as flight commander of a HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. Mark Murphy had co-piloted numerous missions up until then, but this would be different. He would lead a night mission in stormy weather with a crew that was on the heels of their 24 hour tour. Concerns of fatigue and the difficulty of the impending mission made this the riskiest of operations before ever reaching the scene.

Just minutes after departing Air Station Atlantic City, the mission would take a critical turn for the worse. Communications with the disabled vessel had been lost and with one hour of flight time to the last known location, simply finding the Sea Shrike would be considered an accomplishment. An exhaustive search would ensue and after nearly three hours the Coast Guard would receive a call from a Chinese cargo ship that had joined in the search. They had caught site of the vessel and its coordinates were passed along to Murphy.

The situation was dire upon arrival. The boat was still afloat, but it was being beaten badly by eight to ten foot seas, high winds, and the two passengers were without the necessary survival equipment. The Coast Guard rescue swimmer would make it aboard safely, but the first attempt at lowering their basket to rescue the seamen failed. The combination of sea conditions, weather, and rotor wash from the helicopter made hoisting operations very difficult, but adding to that was a 40 foot antenna on the boat that forced an unusually high hoist.

As the empty basket was raised Murphy's co-pilot, Lieutenant Bolz, would make Murphy aware of one last obstacle as he calmly said, "Murph, one-zero mikes to bingo."

What this told Murphy was that they had just 10 minutes of operating time before they had to return to base or they risked running out of fuel. There was no manual to follow for the judgement call that Murphy had to make and the lives of the men below and of those in his aircraft depended on it.

He took a quick look at his fuel gauge and knew he had to act fast. In a moment of clarity he realized what needed to be done. Murphy gave instructions to the 544 foot Chinese vessel that positioned it in a way that created a barrier from the rough seas and wind. Once that was accomplished, he sent his hoist cable down with a sling that his rescue swimmer could use to bring the men to safety one at a time. In a display of remarkable piloting skill and teamwork by the entire crew, all men would be recovered in just shy of 7 minutes.

As they touched down in Atlantic City, Lt. Bolz turned to his flight commander and with enormous relief said, "Don't ever doubt those instincts, Murph." Those words would stick with Murphy for many years to come. The operation would go down as one of the most impressive rescues in Coast Guard history. To this day it is used in the training of Coast Guard pilots as the prime example of quick and resourceful decision making.


Mark Murphy stood at his office windows gazing out past the practice fields. It was twenty years ago to the day that he faced that decision over a dark and stormy mid-Atlantic ocean. In that moment he wondered where the time had gone and if the lives of the others involved had been affected by the experience as much as his. In just a few minutes it would once again have an influence on a decision he was about to encounter.

A knock on his open door snapped him out of his thoughts. Without turning around he answered, "Come in."

Jets General Manager John Idzik walked in, "Mr. Murphy, I need a moment of your time."

Since their first meeting together Murphy had insisted that he be called Murph, but for some reason Idzik wouldn't oblige. This was odd to Murphy, but as time went on he preferred being addressed in this formal way by his General Manager.

Murphy turned and headed for his desk chair, "Sure John, whatta ya got?"

"We have a trade opportunity," Idzik said as he took his seat across the desk.

Murphy leaned back in his chair, "Something that must interest you if you're bringing it to me?"

Before the Jets current three game losing streak the relationship between the two men was already tenuous. Idzik was understandably defensive from the outset of Murphy's takeover of the team. He wasn't Murphy's hire, he felt the owner was too involved with personnel, and Murphy's office was a bit of a sore spot for Idzik as it more closely resembled a scout’s office than that of an owner.

Murphy was pleasantly surprised by Idzik's willingness to follow through with his requests early in the preseason. The players added were picked by the GM, but the moves were suggestions that came from Murphy. That all changed with the release of cornerback Dimitri Patterson following the Eagles game. Patterson was one of Idzik's key veteran signings in the off season, one that came after losing out on Dominique Rogers Cromartie, who went on to sign with the Giants.

Idzik had refused to follow through with the move or even comment on it. This is what led to the press release from personnel executive Rod Graves. Concerns over public perception is all that kept Murphy from making a hasty decision at that point. Murphy decided to give Idzik some leeway as he knew disagreements were not uncommon in front office decisions, but it was getting more difficult for him to grasp Idzik's plan.

Idzik was aware of the owner’s reluctance and he considered the reality that much of what he was doing was a resume builder for his next job. "The Seahawks are looking to move Percy Harvin and we're one of the few teams that have the cap room to make a deal."

The proposed trade caught Murphy off guard for a moment as he was hoping that Idzik had found a suitor for the disgruntled running back Chris Johnson. He then leaned forward, placed his elbows on his desk and began rubbing his hands together, "Is this the type of move you had in mind when we discussed roster flexibility?"

The question surprised Idzik, after all Harvin was coming off an impressive display in the Super Bowl and was regarded as a big playmaker. Idzik was confident that the news of possibly acquiring a player of his caliber would excite the owner. "As a matter of fact it is. He's a dynamic offensive weapon, and we need some speed added to our offense."

"What does our OC think about it?”

"Marty thinks he can make it work," said Idzik.

Murphy followed up, "What role do you see him playing?"

The line of questioning now had Idzik concerned, "We can line him up at multiple positions even running back. We'll find ways to get him the ball."

"I agree that we can use some speed added to the offense," Murphy said as he swung his chair around to face his whiteboard, "but why would the defending champs want to get rid of a player like that?"

Idzik rolled his eyes as the owner looked at the standings he had updated on the board that morning. "He's a bit rough around the edges, but I think it's a risk worth taking."

Murphy knew a little something about assessing risk, but he wasn't so sure about Idzik's ability in doing so. "They traded a first rounder for him last year right? Don't you think that's a red flag, John?"

Before he could answer Murphy continued, "His cap number must be pretty high if there's only a few teams in play, I'm assuming they want a pick in return, right?

"Yes, Mr. Murphy," Idzik answered, but unsure to which question. His confidence was now taken over by confusion. He couldn't understand why this was being met with such resistance.

Murphy then turned and faced his GM, "John, I'm going to have to say no to this trade."

"Mr. Murphy, don't you at least want to hear what they want in return?"

"John, if we were to make a move like this I want a player who fits our system, not the other way around. I want more than a glorified gadget player who can't get along with his teammates, can't stay healthy, and who's been jettisoned from what will be two teams in less than two years.”

"Well I don't -"

Murphy cut off Idzik's rebuttal by lifting his hand with his index finger raised and leaned back. He continued, “We need better production opposite Decker at wide receiver and you gave roster spots to two rookies who can fit that role. We have Kerley who is quickly becoming one of the premier slot receivers in the league, what kind of message are we sending by trading for another one with a massive contract? If we're now going to allocate a large portion of our salary cap, I'd rather invest in the guys we already have."

A stunned Idzik took a moment and contemplated his next move. "Mr. Murphy, I understand your concern, but with all due respect, I think you should leave this kind of decision to the people who have experience in this league. I've been involved in front office decisions for twenty years, I want you to trust me.”

Murphy slowly turned his head to his right and again looked out the window beyond the practice fields, "twenty years,” he said softly.

Idzik's eyes wandered out to see what could've caught Murphy's attention and hesitantly replied, "that's… right."

There were no lives at stake, but as he thought back to that night twenty years ago Murphy realized at that moment the immediate future of his franchise could be. Murphy then cracked a slight smirk from the side of his mouth and whispered to himself, "Bingo."

[gamerMark]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

John Idzik out as Jets GM; Rod Graves named successor

SNY.TV
Matt Cosci October 14, 2014

The New York Jets three game losing streak has inflicted its first casualty and it’s a big one. In an afternoon conference call with the media, Jets owner Mark Murphy announced the firing of General Manager John Idzik. Hired by former owner Woody Johnson following the 2012 season, Idzik held the top personnel position for just twenty months.

Before arriving in New York, Idzik worked in the Seattle Seahawks front office and was known for his ability to manage the NFL’s salary cap. Not regarded as a player personnel man, Idzik has come under scrutiny from fans for his lack of spending while opting to go after bargain type players to fill out the roster. He also engineered the trade of Darrelle Revis which was thought to be under the orders of Woody Johnson. Though too early to conclude, his two drafts as GM have come with mixed results.

A source close to the Jets decision revealed that Idzik’s relationship with new owner Mark Murphy was on thin ice following a few late preseason roster moves. It’s rumored that the tipping point came today when Idzik approached Murphy with a trade proposal for Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin.

When asked about the rumored trade for Harvin as the reasoning for Idzik’s firing Murphy said, “I cannot comment on players that aren’t members of our organization, it was a culmination of things that led to this.”

In his short time as owner Murphy has earned a reputation for not divulging much information, but the owner was candid in his responses to what perpetuated the move. “There was a clear difference in philosophy between us, but I wanted to give John a fair opportunity. As time went on it became clear that those differences could not be overcome.”

When asked to expand on the philosophical differences Murphy said, “There’s no one way to succeed in this league, what’s needed is a clear vision and plan to reach that success, and then make decisions that are consistent with that vision. We seemed to be too reactionary to outside influences so I decided to make a change.

The change comes in the form of veteran executive Rod Graves. The former GM of the Arizona Cardinals has held the title of Senior Director of Football Administration with the Jets for the past two years. Rather than appointing the position on an interim basis, Murphy avoided further speculation by giving Graves the job outright. Murphy commented on the promoted Graves saying, “Rod is a well-respected personnel man who has a wealth of experience and success in the league. I’m excited to see his plan come to fruition.”

The new general manager was unavailable for comment while he returns from a scouting trip. It is expected he will address the media following the Jets Thursday night matchup in New England.
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[GMAB8]

Re: Piloting the Jets: A Madden Franchise

Worth every minute of the long read. I'm eager to see this all play out!